Clashes between protesters and police have erupted in Istanbul shortly after the bodies of the last two miners were recovered in western Turkey’s Soma, bringing the final death toll from the country’s worst ever mining disaster to 301.

Protesters, including members of the Lawyers Association,
gathered in Istanbul on Saturday to demand an explanation from
the government over the tragedy. As they marched to the city’s
famous Taksim Square, a line of riot police and two water cannons
blocked the road, RT’s Sarah Firth tweeted from the scene.

The unrest was reportedly sparked by controversial arrests in the
town of Soma, where a dozen of people – including eight lawyers
providing assistance to victims’ families – were handcuffed
earlier on Saturday. Although the lawyers were released shortly
after, over 20 people remained in detention, according to Turkish
newspaper Hurriyet.

Hundreds of riot police patrolled the streets while others
checked identity cards at three checkpoints on the approach road
to Soma, a witness told Reuters. Local authorities banned all
rallies in the town in response to Friday’s protests over the
mining tragedy, which ended in clashes between demonstrators and
police. Those detained on Saturday were reportedly suspected of
coming to the town to take part in more rallies.

In the wake of a national tragedy instead of empathy &
explanation the Government have responded with TOMA &
teargas pic.twitter.com/ZcFuTO6irx

The bodies of two miners recovered on Saturday are believed to be
the last remaining bodies in the mine following the deadly
accident on May 13. They were discovered shortly after a new fire
began at the site, hindering rescue efforts, Reuters reported.

It is believed that the mass deaths were primarily caused by
carbon monoxide flooding the mine as a result of fire. The
initial blaze began when an electrical unit at the mine exploded.

The exact cause of deaths will be revealed after autopsies,
Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said. DNA tests will be performed
for the identification of victims before the bodies are handed
pver to families, he added, Hurriyet reported.

Demonstrations swept through Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir and Soma –
the site of the disaster- with people smudging black on their
faces in solidarity with the miners.

Rocks were hurled and anti-government slogans chanted – many
blamed mine owners for eschewing health and safety guidelines for
profit motives, and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's government is
regarded as being too close to industry bosses. Worker safety
standards remain lax, and Turkey has borne witness to several
industrial accidents.

Some banners in Soma read: “It was not an accident, it was
murder.” The night following the explosion, some 40 people
were held in Izmir as barricades were constructed and fireworks
thrown, according to Turkey’s Hurriyet daily.

Erdogan additionally induced some anger when a man alleged that
Erdogan’s guards had beaten him on a visit to Soma. A photograph
was leaked of an aide kicking a protester. Yalcin Akdogan, an
adviser to the prime minister accused ‘gang members’ of provoking
Erdogan's team.

Istanbul Technical University students also gathered in protest
at their institution’s links with Soma Holding executives. They
stated protests would continue until any links were severed.